Haircuts and hairstyles can define a decade.
The 2010s were no different.
But perhaps the greatest hairstyle experts aren’t always the newest artists and youngest stars.
Here are some of the best looks older women rocked in the 2010s.
It framed the face just right while giving the wearer a youthful glow.
One star to bring this look into the spotlight was the talented and stunning Glenn Close.
Still, this particular wavy style looked especially gorgeous on the actress.
It was about time this'20s lookmade a good comeback.
And wow, was it stunning.
Plus, this popular hairstyle just went to show that waves could look great at any length.
One of these styles was a short, layered look with messy curls.
For many hair types, simply scrunching the hair with some product could achieve this style.
It was easy to dress up this ‘do, too.
Ryan has always been known to have great hair (remember her look inWhen Harry Met Sally?)
and, in the 2010s, she was still a pro when it came to hair styling.
The sleek, straight look was easy to obtain (just break out that straightener!
), and it looked gorgeous on many faces.
It also looked great with lots of hair lengths.
Keaton has always been a major trendsetter, from herAnnie Halldays up to the 2010s.
And her signature straight hairstyle was no exemption.
It was informal but flattering, understated but also elegant.
One big star to wear her hair this way in the 2010s was the incredible Ellen DeGeneres.
but her style has definitely evolved since then.
This color shift gave the short style a welcome look of dimension.
While DeGeneres’ hairstyles have always looked easy to maintain, the color has not always been so simple.
Throughout the colorings, though, she stuck with the sleek, short cut.
And it’s no wonder why: The haircut has been super flattering on older women!
Thompson looked smashing in her suit (and sneakers!)
when, in November of 2018, she left Buckingham Palace after receiving her damehood (viaCNN).
White or gray can look just as gorgeous as any other hue.
But there was still hope to get that look this past decade.
Academy Award-winner actress Allison Janney was one of those women.
“I have a head full of hair extensions,” Janney toldInStyleduring a 2018 interview.
“Years of blow-drying and coloring and dyeing, it’s just fluff.
So I choose to help fill out my [hair].
I’m not afraid to admit that.”
One look that was particularly popular was the long, wavy ‘do.
It was youthful and fun, and it looked good on almost anyone.
The only problem was that this bed-head style could be deceivingly hard to master.
It required a curling iron, just enough brushing out, and the right amount of hairspray.
Too many or too few curls could lead to a completely different look.
Of course, Moore is no stranger to long haircuts.
In 2014, she explained toRedbookthat there’s a reason she likes to keep her locks long.
“My hair is naturally quite wavy, so it was like artichokes coming out of my head.
One of the reasons I wear my hair long now is that the weight helps keep it smooth.”
Having unruly hair was a great excuse for older women to follow this hair trend.
But older women were showing off their bangs throughout the 2010s.
Bangs were cute, youthful, and usually very easy to manage.
After all these years, she’s kind of a bangs expert.
One especially great look she rocks is when she pairs her banged haircut with stylish glasses.
She’s made the style look professional, mature, and simply adorable.
The style made hair look fuller and thicker, which was wonderful for women with thinner hair.
The look featured a slightly lighter color and lots more volume.
“It’s just bouffanted to perfection,” saidGood Morning Britainhost Kate Garraway.
This past decade, many older women found a good compromise in the shoulder-length chop.
This length was particularly popular when it featured some face-framing layers that added volume and shape.
“I was always the kid with the crazy, frizzy hair and everyone else didn’t have it.
So, I was always the weird one anyway,” she toldTodayback in 2015.
Paired with this interview was a video showing off aTodaystylist’s 30-minute routine to create Kotb’s signature look.
The 2010s saw some excellent curly looks, especially from stars likeZendaya.
But no one got that curl and length quite right like Oprah Winfrey.
Her bouncy curls were absolutely perfect at their shoulder length, giving Winfrey the body and style she deserves.
And this style didn’t just work for Winfrey.
This kind of haircut was big and bold this past decade, and it made a statement.
One iconic lady, who made this style look especially great, was Dame Julie Andrews.
(Who could forget her sweet, ’60s cut inThe Sound of Music?).
But, as it turns out, she found this iconic look by happenstance.
With all the wigs she wore forMary Poppins,Forbesreported, Andrews had to keep her hair super short.
These days, she’s still keeping it cropped.
Apparently, she really likes it.
This style was short with wispy curls and sometimes a little hint of a bang.
Lookin’ good, Betty!
